The banners are already up on light poles all over town: It’s the San Diego Symphony’s Centennial Season, and the oldest orchestra in California is not going to let us forget it. But there’s a lot more to the fall season than a birthday blowout.

As if on cue, the city’s primary dance companies, from Jean Isaacs’ San Diego Dance Theatre (with its annual Trolley Dances) to the San Diego Ballet (celebrating its own 20th anniversary), will be showcasing some of their best.

Local theater companies, not be outdone, are offering everything from a pair of Neil Simon gems (“Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Broadway Bound” at the Globe) to Lynn Nottage’s disturbing, Pulitzer-winning opus (“Ruined” at La Jolla Playhouse).

And you can hear jazz masters from La Jolla (at the Athenaeum) to North Park (at the Birch) and some young turks at UCSD and downtown’s Dizzy’s.

Each of the major visual art museums has something special planned.

And, just a reminder, the symphony is not the only classical game in town. There are plenty of highbrow (and lowbrow) alternatives this fall, from Orchestra Nova to the La Jolla Symphony.

With this rich assortment of options, it may be the San Diego Symphony’s birthday, but the presents are for us.